Your comment is interesting, Rick. One would think it was written in the heart of a large city. In fact it was written while at a poetry writing conference for teachers. This was held at the beautiful Raywood Inservice Centre in the otherwise peaceful and beautiful Adelaide Hills. The freeway cuts a monstrous scar through the tranquillity of the hills – and right in front of the stately home used as the conference centre. It was formerly the home of a prominent political family until sold to the Education Department. What was once a very secluded and large front garden now has a freeway just 100 metres away.

Still, we do appreciate being able to travel to the CBD in 50 minutes – rather than nearly double that via the old winding road. Several communities between us in Murray Bridge and Adelaide have become dormitory suburbs over the last 20 years so the freeway means quick access to the city. Without it, the old highway would be gridlocked every morning and evening. It’s the price we pay!

Unfortunately (to get negative here for a moment), it’s a price we continue to pay. I have to drive past Chicago to visit my Mother. I grew up in a town about 90 miles (150 km) northwest of Chicago named Rockford. When I was young it took a little over an hour after leaving Rockford to begin to see the suburbs of the city. Now it takes about twenty minutes. Here in southwest Pennsylvania where I live now every year there are more and more highways. As you say, without them there would be gridlock going and coming from Pittsburgh, but the population hasn’t really increased much in this area. We just feel a need to spread out to our transportation limits and get from point A to point B really fast. I say we because I’m the same. Given the choice, I will take a fast interstate highway before taking a two lane back road, even though the later is much more enjoyable.

And thank you. It’s because of you and Liz Strauss that I’ve started posting some of my poetry. Keep it up with yours. I don’t always say something, but I enjoy it, as I’m sure others do.

Good on you Rick. I hesitated for quite a few weeks before posting my stories and poems. It is right up there with going undressed in public or baring your innermost feelings in a recovery group – actually – come to think of it, I’ve never done either of those but I can imagine what one goes through. Sending off manuscripts to publishers can be just as intimidating, but in that situation only one or a handful of people read them – and only a few hundred or thousand if published. On a blog the potential is enormous. Anyone can peer into one’s soul, so to speak.